Alliance2015 in Busan at the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness

IBIS, Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe represent Alliance2015 in Busan/South Korea at the HLF4 which takes place from Nov 29th to Dec 1st 2011

Governments from across the globe – as well as Ban Ki Moon, Hillary Clinton, Tony Blair and others – will arrive in South Korea tomorrow for a three-day meeting, which is likely to have a major impact on the future of overseas development. 
Though some progress has been made over the past six years, there is a long way to go for both governments as well as civil society. Shifting power relations, the global economic-, financial- and bank crises, climate change, food price volatility, population growth, lack of global political leadership, shifts in poverty and wealth, the emergence of national and global oligarchies – these are major developments, which are each shaping the fight against poverty. Traditional thinking about aid and development is being challenged hugely.   

Ahead of the Ministerial ‘High Level Forum’, Alliance2015 members are participating in the Civil Society Forum where 500 NGOs and CSOs have gathered to prepare for the HLF - to share information, discuss positions, work towards consensus and secure support on key issues. The previously produced case studies and the lobbying on Democratic Ownership has had huge support.  It’s one of the key commitments the entire Forum is calling for in the final political agreement.  

There are also partners in Busan who were involved in the research:  Cambodian  partner CCC has been raising awareness and concerns about legislation that government is wanting to implement, which will restrict the space for civil society. The Tanzanian partner ANSAF is on the Government Delegation and is speaking at the HLF4 formally about the challenges facing smallholder farmers in Tanzania.

Alliance2015’s objective is to ensure that world leaders agree – and confirm this week - that the fight against poverty will only be won if poor people are part of decision making on those issues which affect their lives.  In other words, they must commit to ensuring that poor people are brought into decision making.  The technical term is ‘Democratic Ownership’ and this is what agreement is needed on in Busan.

Civil society is actually ‘in the room’ and ‘at the table’ this time.  Alongside Government representatives, civil society has a representative - Tony Tujan - who speaks for civil society and is negotiating on its behalf.  This is the first time this has happened, and it’s a real milestone.  The negotiation process leading up to Busan has also been relatively transparent – another great step forward.  Everyone hopes that the process will result in a good outcome.